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SEELEY LAKE – Raymond "Ray" Cebulski, not yet 18-years-old, was riding a green colt up a hill when a half-blind dog ran into the back of it. The colt turned around and started bucking downhill. "It is dang hard to ride a bucking horse downhill because you keep gaining altitude," Cebulski said and laughed. "Finally I went over his head and laid on my hands and knees right in front of him. It sounded to me like he was hitting the ground right between my legs. I was jumping just like a bullfrog -...
MISSOULA COUNTY - The Missoula County Commissioners voted Thursday, March 10 to put a repeal and replace levy request for Missoula Aging Services (MAS) on the ballot for the June primary election. Currently, MAS receives $350,000 from Missoula County taxpayers annually. The levy, if passed, will generate approximately $750,000 in annual income. This equates to an additional $3.69 annual increase for a $100,000 home and $7.38 for a home with a taxable value of $200,000. If passed, the levy will replace the current funding flat rate level for...
SEELEY LAKE – "Mom those little raccoons grew up, climbed down from the tree and ran away a long time ago," Keith told his mother Betty Vanderwielen after she told him she was finally going to finish writing the raccoon book she had started years earlier. She said she replied to him, "'They can't. Until I have Lance rescue them, raise them and release them, they are always up in that tree waiting to be rescued.' Whether the book ever gets published or not, I have to write it for my own peace of...
Vaccine Fearmongers: Is the pot calling the kettle black? Recall, in the early days of the pandemic, it was government spokespeople who drove the whole population into a state of panic and fear. The “authorities” understood early that COVID was dangerous (severe disease and death) for only a small slice of the population (less than 10%); mostly older people with “co-morbidities”. People under the age of 60 in good health were at very little risk of serious disease or death. If you excluded the COVID-“susceptible”, more people died from the flu...
With the return of spring soon upon us, we will be spending more time outdoors with our animal companions. This is an excellent time to discuss Heartworms! Heartworms are actual worms that are a significant cause of infection and disease throughout our entire country. As dogs move around and with our lifestyles pushing further into wildlife territories we will continue to see Heartworm infections increase. Dogs, including coyotes, wolves and foxes, are the natural host for Heartworms...
SEELEY LAKE - Susan M. Monahan has joined the news staff of the Pathfinder. She has been a member of the Seeley Lake community since 2019, when her husband Quinn Carver transferred here for work. Monahan has held various jobs in life from associated editor of the Western News in Libby, Montana to insurance agent with Glacier Insurance of Libby and Western States Insurance, Kalispell (now Payne West), back to reporting with the Kootenai Valley Record in Libby. Locally she has been a hostess at...
SEELEY LAKE - Alan Weltzien's "Savage West : The Life and Fiction of Thomas Savage" is an insightful and remarkable biography. Although Thomas Savage was one of the mountain west's best novelists, he remained virtually unknown to the reading public. Weltzien's biography paints a marvelous picture, not only of Savage's life story, but also as a complement to a major author and his work, coupled with a study of the author's life, family and parts of Montana. Weltzien will present his book this Sat...
SEELEY LAKE - Volunteers play a significant role in community building and bring multiple benefits to organizations, communities and people. The Seeley Lake Community Foundation is bringing nationally recognized trainer Shannon Stober to Seeley Lake to present an evening session called 'Tips & Tricks for Volunteer Management' from 5:30 – 7 p.m. Thursday, March 31. This short, useful and free session will help participants learn ways to find more volunteers, as well as keep people involved with t...
SEELEY LAKE – At their March 8 meeting, the Seeley-Swan Hospital District discussed the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) requirements as it applies to contractors, vendors and the Hospital District Board of Trustees (Board). Partnership Health Center (PHC) asked the Board to sign a letter acknowledging that the board members entering PHC facilities on official business are vaccinated or have an approved medical or religious exemption. The CMS mandate does not apply to the public. The CMS Mandate states, “In order to best prote...
A woman recently moved to Seeley Lake. She LOVES it here. She’s so excited to get involved. Where does she go for information? Where does she go to get involved? How does she meet people? • Perhaps by talking to people around town and getting on some local Facebook pages. • Perusing fliers around Seeley Lake, like the bulletin board at Cory’s. • Hopefully, she will pick up a Pathfinder, see all the businesses and services listed and start to get a sense of the community through articles and reading about local events. • She will probably Go...
Editor's Note: Part I, run in the March 10 issue, highlighted the start of the Northern Pacific Railroad's influence on the Upper Swan Valley through the early 1900's. Although the upper Swan Valley was primarily settled by homesteaders staking claims on United States Forest Service (USFS) lands, some settlers purchased Northern Pacific (NP) lands for as low as $1.25 an acre, usually in 80- or 160-acre parcels. The Haasch family who homesteaded a USFS parcel later bought an additional 160 acres...
OVANDO - The Blackfoot Challenge recently completed the Blackfoot Watershed Stewardship Guide, a 36-page handbook full of information and resources on land and water stewardship for Blackfoot residents. In drawing upon both the generations of stewardship wisdom from those who live and work in the Blackfoot as well the latest scientific research and information, the Challenge hopes this Guide serves as a useful, informative and fun resource for residents as they navigate stewarding the rich and d...
SWAN VALLEY – The Swan Valley School Board discussed how to spend their Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds and possibly changing the preschool program into a transitional kindergarten at their March 8 meeting. Principal Aaron Morgenstern said they had 20 responses to a survey regarding how to prioritize the school’s ESSER funding. Ten of the respondents identified themselves as “Parent” and nine identified as a “Community Member” while one was “Staff.” The survey respondents were asked to prioritize three categorie...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Elementary Junior High Band and Choirs took the state with the Seeley-Swan High School Choir and Band in an early spring concert March 8. Many of the selections they will be performing at the District Music Festival in April....
We’re beginning to see the light at the end of the ‘coronavirus pandemic tunnel’ and Alpine Artisans (AAI) encourages parents and high school students to consider the grants and scholarships we offer. Does your K-12 student want to attend a summer camp in music, drama or any part of the arts? Are you a graduating senior who is interested in majoring or minoring in any aspect of the arts? AAI is interested in helping you. Since 1995, AAI has awarded over 24 senior scholarships for a total of over $15,500 and 69 Youth Grants for a total of $12,68...
Rylee James Styler was violently taken from us in the early morning of Feb. 14 in Leavenworth, Kansas. Rylee, "Ry Guy" as he was affectionately called, was born on May 17, 2000 in Missoula, Montana to Richard Styler and Teri Busse. Rylee loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting, country roads and bonfires. He had an infectious smile that would light up any room and will forever be loved by so many. Rylee is survived by: his father Richard and step-mom Whitney Styler; his mother Teri Busse; his... Full story
SEELEY LAKE - James Harold Whalen of Seeley Lake was born Nov. 2, 1939 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Harold and Elizabeth Whalen. He was brought up with his siblings Carole, Bob and Mary (Midge) in St. Louis Park, Minnesota in an Irish family where Himself was in charge (when Betty allowed him). In his youth, he stayed with his uncle near Billings when he could and worked on the ranch one summer, thus beginning his great love for the beauty and wildlife of Montana. In high school, he lettered in... Full story
After a couple of years of uncertain times due to COVID-19, we now find our lives hit with new uncertainty due to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. We are again undergoing an historic event that will alter the world we know going forward both in the immediate future and potentially for generations to come. The questions continue to mount: Is this the start of World War 3? Will the United States be drug into war yet again on another continent? Will this escalate into a nuclear conflict? What should our involvement be? Will energy prices cause...
8 years ago: March 19, 1987 issue Bring back the bluebirds By Art Sikkink Have you ever wondered about the birdhouses along Highway 83 on the Blackfoot-Clearwater Game Range at Clearwater? The boxes are part of the Montana Bluebird Association's Bluebird Trails and are becoming part of a statewide centennial effort to bring larger numbers of Bluebirds back to Montana. Originally set in place by Harold Knap and forestry students from Missoula County High School, the upkeep of these boxes is now... Full story
SEELEY LAKE – Though originally created in 1978 on United States Forest Service property, in 1990-91 the Seeley Creek Nordic Ski Trails on Morrell Creek Road were widened and redesigned under the guidance of Olympian Jon Eliot. In 1992 a volunteer group formed, named itself the Seeley Lake Nordic Ski Club (SLNSC) and committed to grooming the 18-kilometer trail complex on a regular basis. Grooming those trails continues to be the Club's primary mission. Over the years, the organization has t...
SWAN LAKE — The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) invites the public to comment on a proposal to resurface about seven miles of Highway 83, adjacent to Swan Lake in Lake County. The project begins just south of the town of Swan Lake and extends north for about seven miles, ending at the Flathead National Forest boundary. Proposed work includes milling the existing surface, applying a new asphalt overlay and finishing with a seal and cover (chip seal) and fog seal. New pavement markings, signage, guardrail and low noise centerline r...
Missoula BLM to conduct prescribed burning along Blackfoot River POTOMAC – There will be a little “smoke on the water” this spring as the Bureau of Land Management’s Missoula Field Office does some prescribed burning along the Blackfoot River corridor between Johnsrud Park and Riverbend Campground, north of Potomac and west of Highway 200 near Greenough. Smoke may be visible periodically starting in late March and lasting through early May. When weather and fuel conditions are favorable, multiple units ranging from 20 to 570 acres are planned...
